For the third year, donations collected at A&W Restaurant locations will go to Wounded Warrior Project
A&W Restaurants, Inc., America’s oldest franchise restaurant brand, announced that for the third consecutive year, participating A&W restaurants in the United States will celebrate National Root Beer Float Day on August 6th by giving away FREE Root Beer Floats and supporting Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). Patrons will be encouraged to make a donation to WWP, which supports a full range of programs and services for this generation of injured veterans and their families. During the 2014 celebration of National Root Beer Float Day, A&W Restaurants donated more than $200,000 to WWP and hopes to increase the level of giving this year and in years to come.
Kevin Bazner, CEO of A&W Restaurants, noted, “Our founder, Roy Allen, began making Root Beer to welcome home returning soldiers from World War One. A&W’s commitment to our returning servicemen and women remains high. We are proud to have donated $300,000 to Wounded Warrior Project over the past two years and I look forward to presenting an even larger donation this year. It’s rewarding to support our Veterans and a fun way to celebrate the tastiest and most refreshing day of the summer.”
Anyone visiting a participating A&W restaurant between 2:00 p.m. and closing time will receive one small Root Beer Float free of charge upon request. In return, guests will be encouraged to make a donation to WWP. Donors will be able to give directly at participating restaurants or online at www.rootbeerfloatday.com.
Over 50,000 servicemen and women have been injured in America’s recent military conflicts. In addition to physical wounds, it is estimated as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Another 320,000 are believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. WWP’s 20, life-saving programs and services are uniquely structured to nurture the mind and body, and encourage economic empowerment and engagement.
For more details on National Root Beer Float Day, please visit us at www.rootbeerfloatday.com.
In 1919, A&W’s founder Roy Allen set up a roadside drink stand in Lodi, California to introduce a new beverage called “root beer” at a parade honoring returning World War I veterans. With his creation an instant success, Allen took partner Frank Wright and named the beverage we know as A&W Root Beer. Shortly after, Allen and Wright started franchising roadside stands, which makes A&W restaurants the oldest franchise restaurant chain in the country. A&W Root Beer is made today just like it was back then, fresh in the restaurants. Ingredients include real cane sugar, water; and a proprietary blend of herbs, bark, spices, and berries. It’s still caffeine free and served up in a frosty mug. A&W is owned by a partnership of franchisees; the company has 1,100 franchise locations in 10 countries and territories.
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
